Graduate Students

The Career Center offers career counseling and practice interviewing for M.A/M.S/Ph.D
students and postdocs seeking jobs in private industry, government, and the nonprofit
sector. Call (631) 632-6810 for an appointment, or email
Alfreda James at
alfreda.james@stonybrook.edu.

Transferable Skills

Transferable skills are techniques and competencies that can be applied to various
career fields. For example, R is a programming language useful in careers like computer
programming, statistics, and price analysis.

Project management is another example of a transferable skill. Developing timelines,
setting goals, and designing experiments are all useful skills for different career
fields.

Examples of Transferable Skills & Abilities from Graduate Degrees

Research & Information Management

Understand and synthesize large quantities of information

Design and analyze surveys

Develop organizing principles to sort and evaluate data effectively

Project Management & Organization

Develop a realistic timeline for completion of a project

Prioritize tasks

Anticipate potential problems

Maintain flexibility in the face of changing circumstances (new information or a change
in resource availability)

Data Management & Analytics

Collect, process, and perform statistical analysis

Develop and implement mathematical models to evaluate risk or trends

Assess, integrate, and protect data sources

Develop, test, and maintain large scale data processing systems

Resumes, Cover Letters, & Interviews

A resume serves one purpose—to get you an interview. Most recruiters only spend 30-60
seconds reviewing your resume, so a good resume will say a lot with only a few words.
Your resume should represent your skills and your career potential, but it should
also convey your personality and tell your professional story. To an employer, a resume
is the answer to the question: “Who are you?”

A cover letter is a targeted letter that introduces you and your resume to a specific
prospective employer. Cover letters are often required by employers as part of a job
application along with a resume and sometimes, work samples. Even when not specifically
requested by an employer, they are highly recommended. As the first communication
between you and a prospective employer, a cover letter should convey professionalism
and strong written communications ability while introducing yourself and explaining
your credentials.

You’ve gotten yourself an interview! Congratulations! You’re well on your way to securing
an awesome job. An interview is simply an employer’s way of getting to know the candidates
for a job, so they may select the best fit for their organization’s needs. Think of
an interview as a final examination. It’s your chance to show a potential employer
that you’ve got what it takes to be a part of their organization. Like any examination,
the interview is best taken when you’re well prepared. While there’s no way of knowing
exactly what questions you will be asked (just like a college final!) you can follow
10 simple rules to help you give your best performance possible!

International Students

On-campus job while you study?

On-campus employment for F-1 students does not require written approval if you are
maintaining lawful F-1 status.

J-1 students must meet with an International Student Advisor prior to accepting employment.

Your on-campus job does not need to be related to your field of study.

You cannot exceed more than 20 hours of employment per week during the fall and spring
semesters.

*Note: Intensive English Center students are not eligible for on- or off-campus employment.

Pursuing an off-campus job or internship before graduation?

Off-campus employment and internships require approval from either an InternationalStudent Advisor or USCIS prior to employment.

*Please note: Anyone wishing to work on or off campus
must have a Social Security Number (SSN) in order tobegin employment. The purpose of an SSN is to help the government keep track of an
individual&#39;searnings in the U.S. for tax purposes. Click
here for information on obtaining a Social SecurityNumber.